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LEO
Astrophysics
NuSTAR
High-Energy X-Ray Observatory Detecting Black Holes
FACTS AT A GLANCE
Mission Description
Orbital designed, manufactured, integrated and tested the Nuclear Spectroscopic Telescope Array
(NuSTAR) scientic satellite under a contract from the California Institute of Technology and the Jet
Propulsion Laboratory. The NuSTAR observatory uses high-energy X-rays to detect black holes and
other energetic phenomena in the universe.
The NuSTAR program is being led by Principal Investigator Dr. Fiona Harrison of Caltech. Its mission is
to help scientists answer fundamental questions about the universe, such as:
• How black holes are distributed throughout the cosmos
• How the elements of the universe were created
• What powers the most extreme active galaxies
With answers to these and other questions, NuSTAR will expand our understanding of the origins and
destinies of stars and galaxies.
Spacecraft
The NuSTAR spacecraft is based on Orbital’s proven LEOStar™-2 design. NuSTAR is the seventh
satellite to be based on this platform, taking advantage of a growing heritage of excellent in-orbit
performance from previous missions. Other LEOStar-based satellites that Orbital has designed and built
for previous NASA scientic missions include SORCE, GALEX, and AIM.
NuSTAR has more than 500
times the sensitivity of previous
instruments to detect black holes.
NuSTAR is the rst focusing hard
X-ray telescope in space.
Mission:
Expanding our understanding of the
origins and destinies of stars and
galaxies
Customer:
Jet Propulsion Laboratory
NuSTAR in Orbital's Dulles, Virginia satellite
manufacturing facility
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NuSTAR
Specications
Spacecraft
Launch Mass: 360 kg
Redundancy: Single String
Solar Arrays: 750 W, Articulated
Stabilization: 3-axis stabilized
Orbit: 600 km, 6
°
inclination
Mission Life: 2 Years
Launch
Launch Vehicle: Pegasus
®
XL
Launch Site: Reagan Test Site, Kwajelein Atoll
Date: June 13, 2012 (CONUS)
Instrument
The NuSTAR instrument consists of an array of two co-aligned hard X-ray
telescopes. The mirrors focus onto two shielded solid-state detectors, separated
by a 10 meter mast that was extended from the spacecraft after launch. A laser
metrology system will monitor the mast alignment. The Cadmium Zinc Telluride
(CdZnTe) detectors provide excellent spectral resolution and high efciency without
requiring cryogenic operation.
Mission Partners
Jet Propulsion Laboratory
Program management
California Institute of Technology
Principal Investigator: Dr. Fiona Harrison;
mission management
Orbital Sciences Corporation
Spacecraft development, satellite integration and testing,
launch vehicle
Black Holes
Two types of black holes are known to exist. Stellar-mass
black holes form when a very massive star (at least 25
times heavier than our Sun) runs out of nuclear fuel.
The star explodes as a supernova and what remains is a
black hole, usually only a few times heavier than our Sun
since the explosion has blown much of the stellar material
away.
We know less about the birth of supermassive black holes,
which are much heavier than stellar-mass black holes and
live in the centers of galaxies. Using high energy X-rays
to see through the massive clouds that surround them,
NuSTAR will provide a rst ever census of supermassive
black holes throughout space and time.
Orbital Sciences Corporation
45101 Warp Drive
©2014 Orbital Sciences Corporation FS007_07_2998
•
Dulles, Virginia 20166
•
www.orbital.com
A growing black hole, called a quasar, can be seen at the
center of a faraway galaxy in this artist's concept.
(Photo courtesy NASA/JPL/Caltech)
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